Singh washes his hands of blame

The inquiry into the death of Victoria Climbié has demonstrated that no one is willing to accept they played any part in her death, including the then chief executive of the council responsible for her welfare, Gurbux Singh

There is a growing sense of déjà vu about the evidence presented to the inquiry into the death of child abuse victim Victoria Climbié.

Over the past four months, the inquiry panel has heard from a range of child protection professionals responsible for the welfare of the eight-year-old girl murdered in February 2000. Yet almost all - from police officers to social workers - have adopted the same mantra: it was not their fault and they did not know what else they could have done.

So it was no surprise that yesterday's testimony from the head of the commission for racial equality (CRE), Gurbux Singh, had much the same ring to it.

Mr Singh was chief executive of Haringey council when it held responsibility for Victoria's welfare, but insisted he could not be held accountable for the concurrent crisis in its child protection services.

Despite his sombre black suit there was, yet again, little in the way of an apology for the eight-year-old's appalling fate.

With a wave of his hand the CRE boss brushed off criticisms that he should have been aware of the growing workforce and morale crisis in 1999, which had undermined child protection.

Adopting a measured tone he suggested: "I would actually say that it is directors and layers of management below who ultimately are responsible for the day-to-day delivery of the services within their sphere of responsibility."

But the lead counsel to the inquiry, Neil Garnham QC, was having none of this.

Fixing Mr Singh with a withering look, he said: "There is a continuous moving of responsibility and nobody has said, 'Sorry, I messed up.' Nobody in Haringey has said, 'Sorry, I messed up.'"

But the race relations chief was adamant he was in no way personally or individually responsible for Victoria's tragic fate.

"I'm genuinely trying to be helpful," he insisted, spreading his palms as if to emphasise his openness. "But I'm not actually sure what else could have been done."

Mr Singh shuffled his feet uncomfortably as the counsel sternly observed that the consequence of Haringey council's mishandling of Victoria's care was bad enough without its chief executive admitting he "cannot think what could have done to prevent it".

And he soon grew flustered under Mr Garnham's relentless cross-examination - tripping over his words and swiping and jabbing the air with his hands.

"That's easy for you to say," he objected as the QC dissected his vague replies. "I think you've got that completely wrong."

It was left to the former children's television presenter Floella Benjamin to offer any comfort to Victoria's parents.

Outside the hearing she presented Francis Climbié and his wife Berthe Amoissi with a Christmas hamper and a cash gift, urging them to remain strong for their surviving children back in the Ivory Coast.

"They are having a terrible time," said Ms Benjamin, dressed in a huge furry coat and a smart, tailored red top and trousers. "Victoria's mother is so depressed.

"They have seven children to support and are sending money back to Africa so they only have £80 to live on a week. I came here today to do what I could."